Cluster self-organization of silicate and germanate systems: Suprapolyhedral precursor clusters and self-assembly of orthotetrahedral structures in Na,TR-germanates (silicates)

The geometrical and topological analysis of all known types of the orthotetrahedral structures of Na,TR-germanates and their silicon analogues has been carried out using computer methods (TOPOS 4.0 program package). The full 3D reconstruction of the self-assembly mechanism of crystal structures has been performed as follows: precursor cluster-primary chain-microlayer-microframework (supraprecursor). For Na 2 HLaSiO 5 , NaHo 4 (GeO 4 ) 2 O 2 OH, NaScGeO 4 , and NaSm 3 Ge 2 O 8 (OH) 2 , the same type of 2D TR, T-network has been recognized: 4 33334 + T 4 433. For Na 2 HScGeO 5 , network TR 4 4444 + T 4 44 has been recognized. The coordination number (CN) of a precursor cluster in 2D networks is six. In all structures, the invariant type of cyclic four-polyhedral precursor clusters built of tetrahedron-linked TR-polyhedra has been identified with CNs being eight, seven, or six. In the Na 5 Y 4 Si 4 O 16 F structure, a tubular-type primary chain in which precursor clusters are tetrahedron-linked TR polyhedra with CN = 8 has been recognized. Their stacking in a layer is characterized by the network TR 8 8 4 + T 8 4 8, where 8 corresponds to the cross section of the primary chain. In a 3D network, the total number of neighboring tubular primary chains linked to the main chain is four. In the structures with TR: T = 1: 1 or 1.5: 1, the positions above and below the center of the precursor cluster are occupied by Na atoms; in NaHo 4 (GeO 4 ) 2 O 2 (OH), where TR: T = 2: 1, these positions are occupied by an Na atom and a TR atom.